National Republican., 1887-08-31

The brilliant krticle OF Gov. j. B. For.
aker, Of Ohio, giving incontestable reasons
why the Republican party should be re-
stored to the control of the national gov
ernment is herewith reproduced In Its en-
tirety:
1t is the purpose OF this article to state some
of the reasons why the Republican party
should be restored TO power In the admiulstrl-
tion of our national affairs. by restoration to
power IL meant the control of both branches
OF the legislative, as well as the executive, de .
partment of the -government-a degree OF
power not enjoyed since March a.. 1870, In
setting forth these reasons past records Will be
ignored, except in so far as they necessarily
bear upon existing Questions and the COM
parative fitness OF the respective parties To sub.
serve what are believed u be the best interests
of the whole people OF our common country.
This will be done, not ON the ground that the
history oftho Republican and Democratic par
ties is irrelevant TO this discussion, but only to
comply with the claim, however unreasonable
IL may be, that "by y.goncs should be by-gones;'
and because, while Republicans are justly
proud Of the achievements OF their party, yet
they do not wish TO be again iutrusted with
power simply by reason OF what they have
done, glorious as that may be; but only be.
cause OF what, IN the first place, they propose
to do as to matters about which difference.
exist; and because of what, In the second
place, they are better qualified TO do than
their opponents, as TO matters about which
Naturally, then, the reasons to be offered
may be divided into two cla,ses--iirst, thosl
which relate to the Republican view of the
political questions that now divide the people
and, secondly, those which bear upon the char
ncter, fitness, and general capacity Of the party
TO promote the. general welfare. The tern
Questions that divide the people" Is INTENDED
to include not only those raised by conflicting
platform declarations, but also those whiGi
exist by reason of continuing conflict 1t
practice, habits, influences, and tendencies.
LAE lNu tnN TNnA NNnN N
authorized utterAnCes to learn that there IL ~
issue between the Republican and Democrats
parties ast the matter OF levying impost duties
while, In regard TO the elective frauch ise
these declarations are In harmony, although II
practice and tendency there Is the widest ans
most radical difference. The same may bl
said concerning all questions relating to tn
enforcement of the civil and political equality
OF The colored with the white race aud as {,
many matters touching the relative powers o
the national and state governments 1t Is im
possible in such paper as this to discuss al
these questions, and hence only few of tn
most important will be presented; aud thel
win be treated only to the extent of showing
in general way, their nature. and thus ind
eating the reasons why the Republican view
should prevail with respect to them.
/ First is the question of "a free ballot aud
fair count" II outrauks all others, because |
affects directly the very existence of our gov
eminent The theory OF our institutions |
that tho people are the source of all righthi
authority. The only sovereignty we have
thelr laWiully'eXpresSeu VIII, WnatcVer DE
feats or interieres with that expression Is, a
Least, moral treason. No one will question
any of these propositions. No political part
| could openly deny any one OF them and appea
| for power with any hope of success The con
| sequence is that so far as platform declare
| tions are concerned, oil parties agree that tn
| right of suffrage should be maintained inviC
| late. Nevertheless, the fact Is that the Demo
| cratic party is In power to-day only because, b
| the most shameful offenses, 1t has overthrow
this right in many places and states of tn
| sou,h, and, emboldened by its success there.
has sought To succeed elsewhere by like mean
as at Chicago, Indianapolis, Columbus, an
| Cincinnati. This is said TO he an old questip
aud sectional one, and there are many VIII
| affect to dispose Of all illusions to II with
contemptuous sneer about "the bloedy shirt.
| There Is no answer in all this. The oldC
| the question the more reason for its speed
| settlement; that the crimes complained of ar
| largely confined to n particular locality is II
| reason why their commission should not b
| stopped and the cry of "bloody shirt" bl
| adds insult to injury.
The truth Is, that this question Is upon us no
| ae 1t never has been before not question of til
| past but of the present and the future. Tit
| the south was made solid" by bloody an
fraudulent methods Is as indisputable an his
torical fact as the war itself. That 1t is now
maintained by improper methods is shown b
such circumstances as the formal farce calle
| acongressOnal election, in the state of Georgi
Inst October. In Ohio, and every other Repu
| lican state, there are cast In each district ut
| congressional election an average of abOl
| 3000O votes. There were about the sane nun
her of votes In each of the con gressionul di
tricts OF Georgia, but at the election Of oct.
1856 the votes cast were as follows